Few footballers have combined pace, skill and finishing quite like Thierry Henry.
The Frenchman paired explosive speed with technical brilliance and composure in front of goal, becoming anArsenal legend, World Cup winner and one of the most feared forwards of his generation.
Henry scored a club record 228 goals for Arsenal, winning fourGolden Boots in the Premier League.
A two-time title winner, he was the chief threat of Arsenal's Invincible side in 2004. Post-Premier League, a move toBarcelona brought elusive European success, as Henry claimed a treble at the Camp Nou.
From teammates and opponents to managers and fellow greats, some of football's biggest names have attempted to describe what made Henry so special. Here are some of the best quotes about Thierry Henry.
Thierry Henry: The best quotes about the Arsenal legend
“Thierry Henry is probably technically the most gifted footballer ever to play the beautiful game.”
“Thierry Henry would play for Arsenal like he was a 20-year-old playing in an Under-12 league, and I’ve never seen that before.”
- Paul Merson
“It was embarrassing for the defenders. He just scored when he wanted.”
- Arsene Wenger
“When he’s on fire, he is impossible to stop. He dribbles like a winger, but is still able to score 20 goals a year in the Premiership.”
- Fabio Capello
“He can do things Ronaldo can't. When he's in the mood, there's no stopping him. He is like no other striker. I have to say I haven't seen a player like him. He's an athlete with great technical ability and a tremendous desire to be the best.”
- Lilian Thuram
“When I was at Spain I thought Zinedine Zidane was the best in the world, but playing alongside Thierry made me realise that I was playing alongside the best footballer in the planet.”
- Jose Antonio Reyes
“I’ve used this analogy before and I make no apology for using it again. When he hit top gear and ran past you, it was like trying to chase after someone on a motorbike. When Arsenal were ‘The Invincibles’ in the period between 2003-2004, Henry rivalled Ronaldinho as the best in the world. A great goal-scorer, not to mention a scorer of great goals, he is the finest player I have seen in the Premier League. His game didn’t have a weakness.”
- Jamie Carragher
“He was so powerful I’ve never seen a player being so dominant in the Premier League.”
- Cesc Fabregas